48 NATURAL HISTORY. 



form their principal food, and their activity is so great that 

 when these sources fail, they are able to secure birds, and 

 even the swift and wary lizards, which, when alarmed, dart 

 off like a streak of green light glancing through the bushes. 



The Egyptian Ichneumon, or Pharaoh's Rat, as it is some- 

 times called, is a native of North Africa, and is often do- 

 mesticated for the purpose of destroying the various snakes, 

 and other reptile annoyances, which are such a pest in the 

 houses of hot countries. It principally seeks its prey by 

 night, creeping along with such noiseless and snake-like 

 progress, that not a sound warns the unsuspecting victim of 

 its danger. Its slender snout enables it to suck out the 

 contents of eggs with ease, and it destroys serpents by creep- 

 ing behind them, and then suddenly leaping on their heads, 

 which it instantly crushes between its sharp teeth. Its length 

 without the tail is about eighteen inches. 



About twelve genera are omitted. 



THE DOG. 



We now arrive at the DOG FAMILY, which includes the 

 Dogs, Wolves, Jackals, and Foxes. The first of the Dogs is 

 the Kolsun, or Dhale, which inhabits Bombay and Nepaul. 

 It hunts in packs, as most of the dogs do even in a wild 

 state, and has been known to destroy tigers and chetahs. 

 Let us pass to a more interesting animal, the Newfoundland 

 Dog. This magnificent creature was originally brought from 

 Newfoundland. It is often confounded with the Labrador 

 Dog, a larger and more powerful animal. Both these dogs 

 are trained by their native masters to draw sledges and little 

 carriages, and on that account are highly esteemed. The 

 Newfoundland dog is well known as a most faithful guardian 

 of its master's property. It is remarkably fond of the water, 

 and will fetch out any article which its master indicates, and 

 lay it at his feet. Many instances are known of this noble 

 animal saving the lives of people that have fallen into the 

 water, and must have perished but for its timely aid. There 



